Pool Chemical Tips

By Author: Steve Merillat
Total Articles: 14
Comment this article

Checking and Maintaining Swimming Pool Water Quality

To ensure accurate readings, replace test kit reagents annually.
To ensure the highest water quality, test your pool's pH and free chlorine levels daily, adding chemicals as needed.
Proper chemical usage is important for maintaining a healthy pool. Be sure to follow the chemical manufacturer's instructions closely regarding proper dosage for your size pool.
Add an algaecide and chlorine to your pool before covering it for the winter. It will ensure that the water is clear and algae-free when you reopen it the following season.

Maintaining Swimming Pool pH Levels

The ideal pH for pool water is 7.5. A pH range of 7.4-7.6 is considered acceptable.
Maintaining an alkalinity range from 80-120 ppm will help minimize changes in pH, which can result in scaling and corrosion.

Opening Your Swimming Pool

Whether starting up a brand new pool or one that has been closed over the winter, proper start-up will get you swimming faster and enjoying the pool more and help prevent problems during ...
... the summer months.

1. Remove, clean and store pool cover with cover cleaner deodorizer and perform housekeeping chores such as brushing, vacuuming. The Pool Buster is an easy way to start the vacuuming & cleaning process. Empty the skimmer baskets of dirt and debris.

2. Water level should always be approximately half way up the skimmer opening. If you need to add water use a Hayward Bobby Disposable Filter for fill hose to take out any metal in the water.

Swimming Pool Chemical Safety

Store your pool chemicals out of direct sunlight to prevent breakdown by UV rays.
Scale and corrosive conditions occur when pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and dissolved solids are out of balance. Frequent testing can help prevent these problems before they get out of hand.
Store pool chemicals out of the reach of children in sealed containers.

3. Prepare equipment, following manufacturer's recommendations.

4. Balance water by taking 1 quart of pool water to your professional swimming pool water-testing dealer for a complete water analysis. Make sure to have the CHLORINE STABILIZER checked. Follow the dealer's instructions for balancing the water.

5. Remove organic waste with 1 lb. of shock per 10,000 gallons. Note: shock should be pre-dissolved in a clean plastic bottle of water at a ratio of no more than 1 lb. per 1 gallon of water. Slowly pour into pool around edges.

6. Prevent algae by adding an initial dose of Algae preventative, 1 quart per 25,000 gallons

7. Continuous disinfections. Regular sanitation consists of using Chlorinating 1" or 3" tablets in your automatic chlorinator. AT ALL TIMES, maintain a free chlorine level of at least 1.0 ppm, to continuously kill bacteria.

Swimming Pool Chlorine Tips

To maintain the proper level of residual chlorine when bather load is heavy, shock your pool once a week with a 3 to 5 times higher than normal dose of chlorine.
Chlorine is broken down by the sun's ultraviolet rays. Using cyanuric acid to stabilize the chlorine in your pool at the beginning of the swim season will help you maximize your chlorine's efficiency all summer long.
Filters remove suspended particles from pool water, but don't control bacteria or algae. Maintain a residual chlorine level of 1.0-3.0 ppm (parts per million) to kill bacteria and/or algae present in the water.

For more tips on Pool Chemical Maintainance, visit http://www.1800pools.com
Steve Merillat has been in the Pool industry for 35 years. He started early on working for various Swimming Pool supply companies before ventured out in his own business. He pioneered many processes with the installation of pools that are used as industry standards today. He regularly holds seminars and classes on how to properly maintain your Swimming Pool. Visit http://www.1800pools.com